Dsm-Firmenich PostNL has announced that Romain Bardet will extend his contract with the team until the end of 2025 and retire from road racing next summer, turning his focus to gravel racing.

Barde has been with the German team since joining from AG2R La Mondiale in 2021 and is due to take part in the final grand tour of the Giro d'Italia in 2025 before his last outing on the home ground at Critérium du Dauphiné next year.

The news means that 2024 will be Bardet's last full season and the upcoming Tour de France will be his last outing on his home grand tour.

"For me, it's important to continue with them because I've really enjoyed the time with the team so far. "It has never been very easy to end my career or completely," says Bardet. "I am very grateful for the relationship with all the team members and the trust management has put in me.

"I didn't really know if I wanted to continue cycling, but I said that I could still bring value and continue to chase big results with the team."

Barde continued to compete after leaving the road, saying that his team "could spend more time with young families while he was able to continue cycling." With yet to find its competitiveness

The Uci Gravel World Championship, which will be held in Nice next year on May 10 2025, will be a big goal for Barde after the transition, he said.

"For me, this is how I dreamed of ending my career," Baldette said. "Especially at the Giro, we want to chase some big wins with the team in 2025 and try to get a missing stage victory there. Also, after doing 3 times together, I feel like I want to give something back to the team in this race.

"I will also continue to work with young riders on the team and help them grow towards GC goals. The Dauphine will be my last road race because it is my favorite race on the calendar. It's really mountainous and close to where I live. These are the roads I used to train a lot, so there was no better place to finish my road career.

"After that, I'm really excited to take on a new challenge and do a gravel race with the support of the team. It will be something of a transition for me, but I will do my best at some of the World Cups and also do well at the World Championships in Nice in 2025

Balde is set to leave the road races that, during his career that began in 2012, piled up 10 wins and counted. It's a good idea. He has won stage victories in both the Vuelta a España and the Tour de France (three in the latter), and has won two podiums in the 2016 and 2017 tours.

Highlights of his 2024 season so far include No. 5 on tour in the Alps, No. 2 in Liege-Bastogne-Liege and No. 10 in the Giro d'etalia.

He called DSM head coach Rudy Chemnabaldet "a true pro" and said he and the team were "very proud" of the team. He said he is excited to work with him when he transitions from road to gravel racing in 2025.

"It has been a real pleasure to work with Romain over the past few seasons. He is a true professional who always gives him everything for the sport and gives energy to the people around him," Kemna said.

"Romain not only performs great on the bike with us, but is passionate about helping those around him, and with a voice of wisdom and calmness, helps guide and mentor young up-and-coming GC talent in the team.

"We can continue to work with him in his last year on the road and be there to support him as he takes on his new adventure in gravel racing"